Two-stage method of dyeing films and resulting product



y 31, 1932'- T. TROLAND 1,860,912

TWO-STAGE METHOD OF DYEING FILMS AND RESULTING PRODUCT v Filed May 4, 1928 YE DPOS/TEO IN DISPROPORT/ONA TE LOCAL CONCE/VTPA r/o/vs 0/v smsp SLOPES AND SMALL AREAS DYE WASHED OUT OF SMALL AREAS AND REDUCED IN OTHER AREAS l f DYE RES TORED IN'SMALL AREAS AND RENDERED PROPORTION/1L T0 FILM DEVELOPMENT THROUGH our j;zae7z?a7 1 ,6 607247 *a{Z /7'0 Patented May 31, 19 32,

UNITED STATES, PATENT, oFFlc-s' LEONARD r. momnn, or CAMBRIDGE, massacnusnr'rs, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE .AS- smmnrs, 'ro TEGHNICOLOR MOTION PICTURE coaronarron, or :eos'rorr, MASSA- CHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MAINE 'rwo-s'moE METHOD or Drama FILMS ,AND mum'ms rnonucr Application filed May 24, 1928. Serial No. 280,289.

This invention relates to a method of treating selectively Wetting or absorbing surfaces, such as cinematographic films, and to the products resulting from the application of the 'inve ntion. The invention is applicable to processes in which the image or developed areas are rendered dye absorptlveand also to processes in which the non-image orundeveloped areas are rendered dye absorptive.

It is well known in the photographic art to develop images in or upon photographic surfaces, such as gelatine, and to then color the same by treating with adye solution. The latter is known to be selectively absorbed by the developed (or undeveloped) areas more or less in direct (or inverse) roportion to the degree of development. uch absorptive surfaces may be further characterized by presenting arelief contour corresponding to the images and tothe degree of exposure or development to which they have been subjected.

But films or other surfaces, which have been thus colored, frequently do not present the same relative or proportionate color or density contrasts as the ori 'nal mages which they are intended to slmulate and hence fail to be accurate reproductions. They may also fail -to produce accurate re' productions when they are used as matrix films for printing, as by imbibition or like procedure. These failures may be attributed to disproportionate distribution or excess of the color substance in certain densities relative to others, or to subsequent dis roportionate migration of the color by dlfi'usion or the like in the. printing process.

It is therefore an object-of this invention to provide a method for the treatment of. se-

- lectively absorptive or adsorptive surfaces,

such as cinematographic films andvmore especially developed films having relief images such as those used as matrices for imbibition printing. It. is a further object to treat'such surfaces with color substances, for example dye solutions, in such a manner as to.impart a coloration thereto which shall correspond in color values, contrasts, and absolute densities to those exhibited by the original subject which the developed images in the surfaces represent. Another object is to so apply the color substance to the surface that, upon effecting inhibition contact with a second sur- 1 ized by variations in the degree to which the severa1 .parts are wet by and absorptive or adsorptive of color solutionst or suspensions; and includes the .steps of treating the surface with a dye solution (preferably of predetermined uniform concentration and for a sufiicient time to permit the maximum density desired to be acquired by the surface), removing the'excess accumulations of color substance therein,- as by washing with an appropriate solvent of the color, and thereafter subjecting the surface to' a second treatment with a color solution or suspension, (which may be the same as, or different from the first,, ashereinafter pointed out) under predetermined conditions 0f c0ntr0l, usually of less concentration or for a shorter period-of time than the first, or both. The. surface maybe rinsed to remove "any excess ofthe. solution adheringv thereto, if necessary, and then allowed to dry, or may be employed directly, as for imbibition printing In practice, the available dyes for dyeing or the like.

the' thus prepared matrix film (e, g. may yield toohigh a contrast by a bathing of the film. If it is attempted to avoid this by employing a lower dyeconcentration or a shorter timeof bathing-,'

green a poor Hunter and Dillieldv curve results v single where high densities are reduced but middle and low densities are notproportionately re duced. .By dyeing or bathing) to full con trast (or nearly so) and thenwashing back the curve can bechanged in a manner op 0'- site to that produced by short bathing, ow and medium densities are reduced faster (or more) than the high ones. But the very low densities are men made too low when the high and medium are about right. Accordingly, the low densities are restored by a second short time bathing in the dye solution.

The invention will be described with reference to its application for the treatment of cinematographic matrix films, havmg developed images thereon (which typically present wide variations of contrast and color densities, and in corresponding'reliefs) preliminary to employing the same for the imbibition'printing of other films therefrom; in known ways. To this end, the matrix film may be exposed directly to the original sub- 1 ject and then developed, or may be exposed and then .developed, according to through a suitably prepared negative film the wellknown practices of the artf I Reference may bemade to the accompanyin drawings, in which ig. 1 is a cross section of a dye-treated be passed .preferred to be somewhat greater than that required to yield themaximum needed absorption of light of the color in question,

either of reflection or of transmission as the case may be. In this'step ordinarily the dye substance will not only be absorbed and upon the developed surfaces in proportion to their several degrees of development, but it will also penetrate into the surface in accordance with a similarflaw. In the case of a relief matrix-film, the sides of the-smaller relief surfaces (as at 2 in the'drawings) presenta greater roportionate area than do the larger relief surfaces 3, 4, and the deposition of dye may be to some extent directly proportional to the areas of such de- The more intensively abalso accumulate a greater density of dye than is necessary. Conseveloped surfaces.

quently, when green dye is employed, for example,

the green may be too dense in the high density region to balance the red inthehigh-density portions. 5

In order to remedy this condition the colsupposed to be clear and hence non-adsorp-v tive, and at the same time removes dye subis removed and maybe blown ofi t remove adhering solution of dissolved dye. It is then usually found'that an excessive amount of dye has been removed from the lighter den-. sity regions as indicated at 21. In order to restore this without a proportionate darken:

, ing of the denser regions the film may now be given a second treatment, with a dye solution which is principally distinguished from the first treatment either in the durat1on of treatment orin the characteristicsof the dye solution, or both. Thus, the sec-c ,ond dye solution may be the same as the first,'but the film allowed to remain in contact with it for a much shorter period. For example, while the contact or immersion of the film with the first dye solution may be a matter of several minutes, the treatment with the second dye solution is preferably for a few seconds only. 7

Likewise, the concentration of the second dye solution ma be so regulated as to control the rate an degree of color absorption by the film surface, and evento control thesense of the dyeing operation, that is to say, whether the film shall acquire more dye or shall lose some of that already absorbed. Thus, more intensely dyed areas may tend to lose dye substance to the second dye solution while the lighter or less densel dyed areas may be capable of further d-ye a' sorption or adsorption. Conversely, with more concentrated if the solution is extremely dilute, the

llO

solutions all of the developed areas may be ored film may now be washed, as by vimin the washing stage) may be less aifected This removes the supe ficial deposits .of dye further increments of color substance qr actuquite rapldly from th more densely colored allyliberate" residual excesses tothe dye soluareas, and also from those parts which are tion. In this way, the color (green, for cf- 'mersing or passing through a body of water. or, as above indicated, may either receive no plementary.

1 first treatment.

' present;

It is also to be observed that the second treatment maybe carried out with a different color substance from that employed in the This procedure can be used for various purposes, (e. g. (1) to produce dichroic effect (such as blue skies) (2) to avoid or neutralize a dichroic effect already (3) to secure especially good defini tion in lighter densities for which purpose the second dye may be of sharp definition even if flat) but has the general effect of modifying the lower densities of the first color to produce or to remove a dichroic effect. For example, solutionthe-lighter densities could be bluish,

. whereas the higher ones are more greenish,

' proper value for the desired result, the color substance in any given portion isof uniform simultaneously with thus favoring the rendering of blue skies dark greenfoliage. Also, if the second dyeing is made nearly neutral or gray in color, tails can be restored in terms of luminosity contrast, without necessarily making them appreciably greener.

The result is, in general, a distribution of color substance upon and to some extent in the surface of the dyed matrix film, corresponding accurately to those occurrences of the color in the original subject which the developed image represents. Moreover, while such relative color distribution over the areas of the developed film is thus brought to its properties.

. The film may now be dried if it is to beregarded as the. finished product. As a matrix film'for imbibition printing of other films, however, it is suitable for direct con.- tact with the surface to be printed. To this end, a blank film, preferably having a hardened gelatine surface, may be subjected to a preliminary uniform wetting with water, and

then brought into intimate contact with the dyed surface of the matrix. A slight 'pressure is imparted to the contacting surfaces, and the condition of imbibition contact is maintained for a suitable period of time to permit the substantially complete transfer of color substance from the matrix film to the blank surface. They are then separated and the printed. blanlgis allowed to dry, while the matrix film is in a suitable condition for reuse directly or after the removal of any traces of residual d e in case complete transfer has not been efib cted.

If the process is properly carried out, the matrix film, and hence the printed blank so produced, are found to present (by either reas browns, well 'as the the green and red areas severally. by using a blue color' the low density de-' flected or transmitted light) an improved reproduction not only in relative light intensities, shades and contrasts, but also in absolute densities, color tones and values. The latter is especially significant when the printed film is subsequently printed (in a like manner, by a repetition of the described steps or otherwise) with a color complementary with respect to the first. Thus, if the first color imparted to the film is green (from a matrix developed with respect to the green colorations of the original subject) and the film is then rinted from a second matrix film in red from a matrix film developed with respect to the red c-olorations of the original subject) component colors in the printed images made up from green and red, such etc., will be truly reproduced as varying shades and contrasts in Numerous modifications and substitutions may be made in adapting the invention to its various applications in the several arts to which it is related. Such modifications and substitutions arefhowever, comprehended by the above disclosure and to claims.

I claim: Y a 1. Method of coloring cinematographic films having a preferentially absorptive surbe considered as 7 included within the terms of the following face, which comprises-successively subjecting the same to a plurality of coloring liquids, with intermediate removal of a part of the color substance deposited in the first treatment.

2. Method of coloring cinematographic films having a preferentially absorptlve surface, which comprises successively subjecting the same to a plurality of coloring liquids,

with intermediate removal of a part of the .color substance to leave a predetermined maximum concentration of color substance on the surface, preliminary to the succeeding operation.

3. Method of coloring cinematographic films having a preferentially absorptive surface, which comprises treating the same with a coloring liquid susceptible of preferential absorption by the surface, removing a part of the color substance. deposited in the said treatment, and subjecting the surface to a second treatment with a coloring liquid, characterized by a lesser degree of absorption than the first. I

4. Method of coloring cinematographic films having a preferentially absorptive surface, which comprises treating the same with a coloring liquid susceptible of preferential absorption by the surface, removing a part of the color substance deposited in said treatment, and subjecting the surface to a second treatment with a coloring liquid, said second treatment being characterized by a shorter period of duration than the first.

5. Method of coloring cinematographic films having a preferentially absorptive surwhich comprises treating the same with absorption by the surface, removing the color substance deposited in the first treatment to a predetermined value, and subjecting the surface to a second treatment with a coloring liquid, the second treatment being characterized by a solution of lower concentration than the first.

7. 'Method of coloring cinematographic films having a preferentially absorptive surface, which comprises treating the same with a coloring liquid susceptible of preferential absorption by the surface, removing the color substance deposited in the first treatment to a predetermined value, and subjecting the surface to a second treatment with a coloring liquid, the second treatment being characterized by a shorter period of duration than the substance de first and with a solution lower concentration than the first.

8. Method of coloring cinematographic films having a preferentially absorptive surface, which comprises treating the same with a coloring liquid susceptible of preferential absorption by thesurface, removing the color ited in the first treatment to a predetermined value, and subjecting the surface to a second treatment with a coloring liduid, the second treatment being characterized by a shorter riod of duration than the first, the color being the same as the first color substance, but in a solution of lower concentration than the first. i

9. Method of coloring cinematographic films having a preferentially absorptive surface, which comprises treatin the same with a coloring substance suscepti le to preferential absorption by the surface, removing the color substance deposited in thefirst treatment to below the maximum of selective light absorption, and subjecting the surface to a second treatment with second treatment being characterized by the employment of a color substance bearing a predetermined relationship to the preferential absorption properties of the surface to be treated therewith.

- 10-. Method of coloring cinematographic films having a preferentially absorptive surface, which comprises treating the same with a coloring substance susceptible to preferem. tial absorption by the sur ace, removing the the first and by a color substance, the v rea ers color suce deposited in the first treatment to below the maxlmum. of selective light absorption, and subjectingthe surface to a a ment to below the maximum of selective light absorption, and subjecting thesurface to a second treatment with a color substance, the second treatment being characterized by the employment of a color substance in a condition of greater liquid dilution than the first and by hearing a predetermined rela-- tionship to the preferential absorption properties of the surface to be treated therewith. 12. Method of coloring cinematographic films having a preferentially absorptive surface, which comprisestreating the same with a coloring substance susceptible to preferential absorption by the surface, removing the color substance deposited in the first treatment to below the maximum of selective light absorption, and subjecting the surface to axsecond treatment with a color substance, the second treatment being characterized by a shorter period of duration than the first, and the employment of a color substance in a condition of eater liquid dilution than earing a predetermined relationship to the preferential absorption properties of the surface to be treated there-, wit v 13. Method of coloring cinematographic films having a preferentially absorptive surface, which comprises treating the same with a coloring substance susceptible to preferential absorption by the surface, washing out the color substance deposited in the'first treatment to below the maximum of selective light absorption, and subjecting the surface to a second treatment with a color substance, the second treatment being characterized by effecting a lesser degree of color absorption s than the first.

14. Method of coloring cinematographic films, which comprises wetting the same with a dye solution, washing, and subjecting the same to a second treatment with dye solution before making the imbibition impression.

15. Method of coloring cinematographic which comprises wetting the same in excess of its absorption the dye somewhat below to the maximum of selecwith a dye solution capacity removing that correspondin tivelight absorption and subjecting the film to e seconcl treatment with& dye solution of e color sugplementary to the "-3 i 16. Metho of coloring cinemeto films, vwhich comprises wetting the same with a dye solution in excess of its absorption cepacityremoving the dye to below e concentration correspondin to its meximum of selective abso, tion 0 transmitted light, and subjecting t e film to a second. treatment of dye solution, the dye solution in the seconcl treatment being supgmlementery to end of e lower concentration t an in the first solution. Signed Toy me at Boston, Massachusetts, this seventeenth do of Me 1928.

LEO ARD ZERO I ephic 

